Platform to the future

RAIL services in the North-West will receive a £1.2billion boost in new deals announced yesterday.

The Government will award the Northern franchise — which serves smaller stations including Greenfield — to Arriva Rail North, and the TransPennine Express franchise will go to First TransPennine Express.

More than 500 new carriages, the removal of outdated and unpopular “Pacer” trains, room for 40,000 extra passengers at busy times and more than 2,000 extra services a week will be delivered across the North.

By 2019, new 100mph trains will operate services from Manchester to Barrow-in-Furness, Blackpool, Bradford, Chester, Leeds, Liverpool and Windermere.

Forty-five currently unstaffed stations will be staffed while there will be extended opening hours at 54 locations.

Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin said: “We promised passengers in the North-West a world class rail service that would make the Northern Powerhouse a reality — and I’m delighted we have found two operators who will deliver exactly that.”